The Impact Of The Complication Of Firepox Can Disrupt The Quality Of Life, This Is A Prevention Step

Illustration of smallpox (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Herpes Zoster, or often known as smallpox, is a disease caused by the reactivation of the Vaicella-Zoster (VZV) virus, a virus that also causes chickenpox.

The impact of this disease, of course, should not be taken lightly, because it can lead to disrupting the patient's quality of life.

After a person recovers from chickenpox, this virus remains in the body in a void state on the nerves and can be reactivated in the future as a Zoster Herpes.

About 9 out of 10 adults over 50 years of age already have this virus, and 1 in 3 people have the risk of experiencing it throughout their lives.

This disease is generally characterized by a painful rash that appears on one side of the body or face. This foam can last for 2 to 4 weeks.

In the early stages, patients often experience pain such as burning or tingling before the appearance of a rash which then develops into excesses filled with liquid.

Although Herpes Zoster cannot directly transmit from one person to another, someone who has never been exposed to chickenpox can catch the VZV virus from a Herpes Zoster patient who is undergoing an active rash, which can then develop into chickenpox.

"Therefore, patients who are still in the rash phase are advised to cover their wounds and avoid contact with vulnerable individuals such as infants, pregnant women, and people with weak immune systems. After the excesses dry up, the risk of transmission will disappear,"

This was explained by a professor from the Faculty of Public Health, University of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Hasbullah Thabrany, MPH, Dr.PH, in the media gathering "The results of a White Paper study on Adult and Elderly Vaccination in Indonesia are focused on Herpes Zoster disease," in Jakarta, Thursday, March 20, 2025.

One of the most common complications of Herpes Zoster is Post-Herpes Pain (NPH), which is long-term nerve pain that can last months to years after a rash recovered. About 10 percent to 18 percent of patients experience NPH, with a higher risk in elderly patients.

Apart from NPH, smallpox can also attack the facial area and cause visual impairment when it hits the eye. Other, less frequent but serious complications include pneumonia, hearing loss, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), and even death.

This disease also has an impact on the quality of life of patients, especially in parents who can lose independence and need assistance for daily activities.

On the same occasion, Dr. dr. Hanny Nilasari, Sp.D.V.E., Subsp. Ven., FINSDV, FAADV, from the Association of Indonesian Skin and Gender Specialists (PERDOSKI) said, many patients who came to health facilities were in dire condition because of the difficulty of recognizing the initial symptoms of smallpox.

Frequently, muscle pain or pain such as joint pain appears before a rash is visible, which causes delays in the diagnosis.

In elderly patients, for example, the risk of experiencing NPH has increased dramatically, from about 5 percent at the age of under 40 to 50 percent at the age of over 80.

"This condition can interfere with the patient's quality of life because the pain caused is very intense, especially if the pain scale is above 7 out of 10, it also risks causing heavier NPH."

"Therefore, treatment must be carried out thoroughly, including the use of pain relievers and additional therapies such as neural supplements and muscle relaxation," he said.

The risk of developing smallpox will increase with age, especially after the age of 50 due to weakened immune systems. Individuals with comorbidities such as diabetes, cancer, or immunocompromised conditions are also more susceptible to Herpes Zoster infections and complications.

To prevent Herpes Zoster, individuals are advised to maintain health by managing stress, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and getting vaccinated.

The Herpes Zoster vaccine is also recommended in the Adult Immunization Schedule by the PAPDI Adult Immunization Task Force, especially for adults over 50 years of age and individuals over 18 years of age with a weak immune system.

"There have been many studies that have proven that vaccination can reduce the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to this disease, as well as provide long-term economic benefits," said doctor Hasbullah.

The public needs to be more aware of the risks of Herpes Zoster and the importance of prevention through vaccination. On this occasion, Reswita Dery Gisriani, as Communication, Government Affairs & Market Access Director, GSK Indonesia said, vaccination in adults can contribute to improving health and quality of life, even in some cases it can reduce the number of hospitalization risks by half the time and reduce the death rate by up to a third.

"Through increased awareness and access to vaccination, it is hoped that the incidence of smallpox and its impact on quality of life can be significantly suppressed," concluded Reswita.